Small Group Questions

1. The message says, “The vertical shapes the horizontal.” How does our relationship with God affect the way we treat our family, friends, coworkers, and others around us?

2. Self-centeredness was described as putting ourselves “on the throne where only God belongs.” What are some signs that we may be putting ourselves at the center of our lives without realizing it?

3. The message defines control as “bending people and facts toward the outcome I have already decided I need.” Where are you most tempted to seek control, and what makes surrendering that area to God difficult?

4. When control fails, we often experience pain and look for ways to “medicate” or escape it. What are some healthy and unhealthy ways we respond to disappointment, anxiety, or pain? How can turning toward God and others interrupt that cycle?
5. The message says that we can be forgiven in secret, but healing happens in community. What makes it difficult to take off the mask and be honest with others? What would it look like for our group to become a place where people can be known, supported, and challenged as they follow Jesus together?

The Prison of Me - Fresh Start